On Wednesday, Renegade Arts Entertainment published the complete edition of writer/illustrator Elaine M. Will’s The Last Band on Earth, which raised more than $6 thousand USD on Kickstarter earlier this year. Ahead of Will’s appearance at Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2025, The Beat can exclusively share the entire first chapter of the graphic novel.
The Last Band on Earth follows the noise-rock band The Dead Layaways as they attempt to leave a post-apocalyptic city ruled by demons in order to tour what’s left of the world. The demons insist the city is the last safe haven, but the band knows personally that it’s anything but—so they strike out on their own and damn the consequences.
Here’s the full synopsis:
A dystopian horror story about music and mental illness.
Nat and her bandmates in The Dead Layaways want to go on tour, but the demonic entities who run their city have other idea, not to mention the dark cloud that hangs over everything stifles their creativity. This ruined place is not their home, and they have no idea how they ended up here, or where “home” even is. Is there really nothing but endless wasteland beyond the city limits, as the demons claim?
Below, read the entire first chapter from The Last Band on Earth.
The Last Band On Earth is available everywhere books are sold.
